Firmware update gives Sony QX-series cameras more manual control

Sony has announced firmware upgrades that enhance the features of its QX-series 'lens-style' cameras, which clip on to the front of your smartphone. The update adds Full HD video recording and an expanded ISO range for both the QX10 and QX100, while the latter also receives a shutter priority mode. Version 4.0 of Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app has more seamless viewing of photos and also promises double the performance on iOS devices (an improved Android app will follow next year). The PMM 4.0 app is available for download now, while the firmware update will be released in January.

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 18, 2013 – Sony Electronics has announced plans for a software and firmware update designed to improve the overall usability, speed and functionality of the Cyber-shot QX100 and QX10 “Lens-style” Cameras.

SOFTWARE UPDATE

The software update for the PlayMemories Mobile™ application – Version 4.0 – will work with all Sony Wi-Fi enabled cameras in addition to the Cyber-shot QX series, and will be available immediately in both Google Play™ and App Store™. The updated application will feature:

Embedded Photo Browser – A “Quick Viewer” photo browser has been added to the PlayMemories Mobile application, which will allow for seamless navigation between shooting images and viewing images in playback mode.

Improved Speed and Functionality – The newest version of the application will have improved connectivity speed when linking to devices running the Apple iOS™ platform. More specifically, connection start up time will be approximately twice as fast compared to previous versions of the PlayMemories Mobile application.

Sony will be releasing another software update in Spring 2014 to improve connectivity speed with Android devices.

CAMERA FIRMWARE UPDATE

Additionally, there will be a firmware update for QX cameras in January which will add a variety of exciting capabilities including:

Full HD Movie Recording (QX100 and QX10): Both of the Cyber-shot QX Series cameras will have the ability to shoot Full HD 1080p video (1920x1080@30p in MP4) after the firmware update.

Shutter Priority (“S”) Mode (QX100 only): The Shutter Priority (“S”) mode will be added to the QX100 camera to allow direct access control to shutter speed.

Expanded ISO Shooting Range (QX100 and QX10): Each of the cameras will be able to shoot at higher ISO settings for greater versatility in low-light conditions. The QX10 camera will be expanded from max ISO 1600 to max ISO 3200. The QX100 camera will be expanded from max ISO 3200 to max ISO 12800.

Comments

I want a QX100 and a QX10 for street photography, as well as for photography in shops, supermarkets, malls etc, but I need to be able to have full manual control for shutter, aperture, and ISO both in photography and in video. Without full manual control (especially for shutter speed), they're useless. It's good the new firmware will add shutter-priority mode to QX100, but why don't they add it to the QX10 too? QX10 has a 25mm-equivalent lens while the QX100 is only 28mm, and the wider it is the better it is for taking pictures of strangers without them noticing.

I have just bought a QX10, today. Why? Well why not? It is going to be fun to use. :-)As for talking to my iPhone 4GS and iPad 1, installed the software, put the wireless password in and no problem at all.

It is not for everyone, I know, but personally I can see the fun aspect of using one.I did consider the QX100, but could not justify the price and size, even if the IQ is a lot better, better even than my much loved LX-5. Still it was cheap, and I know I will enjoy using it.

The concept for these is pretty good, and being in the market for a camcorder, I ordered the QX100 a few weeks ago. I had it about an hour before sending it back. The connection between it and my Samsung Galaxy S3 was awful. I wonder if these updates will resolve connection issues?

I played with this camera at the sony store and experienced the same problem. It took them a while to get it paired with a sony smart phone, and afterwards the viewfinder (phone's screen) refresh rate was absolutely terriable. It was unuseable.

I love SONY's recent innovations, and I probably will buy a A7. I wish them all the best! Just hope they don't burn through their budget too quickly and somebody upstairs decides they should exit when the innovactions aren't translating to quarterly results.

You couldn't even control shutter speed before? Holy crap. I knew the design was weird, but didn't realize the interface was so limited. I would have thought they would give similar controls and interface to one of their stand alone cameras to help better differentiate it from the camera ALREADY ATTACHED 2 INCHES AWAY.

I would assume most people who buy these as an add on for a device that already has a camera care a little more about their photography, and would want basic controls like shutter speed.

Sure, Canikon mostly stick to their usual designs and established technologies, but they do come up with some new things too.Nikon AW1 is the first digital system camera that is actually waterproof and submergible, and not just weather resistant.Canon's "Dual Pixel AF" is a major innovation, and superior to any other implementation of on-sensor PDAF, including Sony's.The PowerShot N, which is basically just a P&S, nevertheless is also an attempt to try something different design-wise.

It seems the "Canon and Nikon never innovate" mantra is throwed around a lot, no matter what products they release.